What is chronic cough?
If you have a severe cough that has lasted for more than 7-8 weeks, you could be suffering from chronic cough.
In children, a cough that lasts over 4 weeks is considered chronic.
It is usually a symptom of a more serious underlying health issue.
Causes of chronic cough
Postnasal drip
Postnasal drip
Asthma
- This disease can cause inflammation of the lungs
- It can cause lining of airways to swell up and tighten
- This causes difficulty in breathing which leads to bouts of coughing
- If left untreated, the cough can become chronic
Acid reflux
- Occurs when acids in your stomach move back along the esophagus
- It irritates the lining of the throat
- This can lead to chronic cough
Bronchiectasis
- Is an inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes
- The tubes get thick and fill with mucus
- This can get infected too
- The thick mucus/ infection can give rise to a persistent cough
Pulmonary infections
- Caused by inflammations and infections of the lungs like pneumonia
- Can cause inflammation in the air sacs
- Can trigger chronic cough
Smoking and Environmental Pollution
- Can give rise to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or lung cancer which causes chronic cough
- Can cause acid reflux that triggers chronic cough
Other common causes for chronic cough that can include:-
- Rhinosinusitis
- Eosinophilic Bronchitis
- Weak throat muscles
- Heart failure
- Psychological disorders
- Lung cancer